Recruiting report

Best of the best from the recruiting year

Always good to hand out awards. I had a shorter version of this in today's paper, but here's an extended version with a few more categories included:

Most fearless recruiter: New Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin, who apparently has drawn the ire already of some SEC coaches for his aggressive approach on the recruiting trail. Should make the fall that much more enjoyable, huh?

Best impression: Entering the weekend, Kansas and Nebraska had 19 combined commitments from Texas, six of which are from within Tarrant County. Among those are Arlington Bowie quarterback Christian Matthews, who chose the Jayhawks, and Euless Trinity running back Dontrayevous Robinson (Nebraska).

Biggest event: The ESPNU Under Armour All-American game in Orlando. It's become the event to play in already, and had the majority of the nation's top recruits this year. Let's see what happens in 2010.

Biggest commitments: Texas A&M could have a huge piece for its future with Beaumont West Brook running back Christine Michael, a Star-Telegram Elite 11 recruit, and TCU also got four, four-star players to commit, led by Brownwood quarterback Casey Pachall.

Best recruiting battle: Hands down between Oklahoma and Texas for Lufkin defensive lineman Jamarkus McFarland, who choose the Sooners on Christmas Day.

Best last minute moves: Got to hand it to Mansfield Summit's Nosa Eguae, who de-committed from Colorado and went with Auburn. Arlington Bowie defensive end Jarrett Brown also committed to Oklahoma on the final weekend before Signing Day.

Best decision: Texas is in great shape after quarterback Colt McCoy decided to return for his senior season. Not only does it make the Longhorns a national title contender, but it also lets Austin Lake Travis quarterback Garrett Gilbert be groomed for a year.

Best steals: Two of the biggest came with Wichita Falls Rider receiver Eric Ward, a four-star recruit, switched from Oklahoma to Texas Tech, and Navasota athlete Dexter Pratt went from LSU to Oklahoma State.

Most over-the-top comment: Hands down from LSU coach Les Miles, who called his class, "One of the greatest classes ever. Certainly at LSU and possibly nationally."

Best 2-for-1 deals: Stepfan Taylor (Stanford), Josh Mauro (Stanford), Eddie Foster (Vanderbilt) and Bobby Schneider (Harvard) are beyond blessed. Not only do they get to keep playing football in college, they'll also get some of the best educations offered in this country.

Best highlight video: It’s from his junior year, but Hawaii linebacker Manti Te’o has a nine minute long video that can be seen on the Star-Telegram’s recruiting blog, and found in the videos category.

Biggest question: Watch Sulphur Springs quarterback Tyrik Rollison, who has committed to Auburn. Questions have surfaced about if he'll be able to qualify and enroll.

-Trae Thompson

Oklahoma a "dream school" for Brown

Arlington Bowie defensive end Jarrett Brown had been watching Oklahoma football for a long time.
"It's my dream school," he said.
So when Sooners coaches started calling about him three weeks ago, it was simple: Brown (6-4, 245) set up a visit. He went this weekend, and walked away committed to the Sooners.
"Oklahoma's been his dream school from the get go," Volunteers coach Kenny Perry said. "He called me during his recruiting trip and said he liked coach (Brent) Venables. I think he can play there. I don't know if he can play right away."
Brown had offers from Kansas State, Kansas, Utah and Connecticut but Perry said he "blew up" at the end and had a lot of schools come in late. Among those interested were Tennessee, Texas Tech, Nebraska and TCU.
"I just figured with the way he finished the season and the more film they watched that that would happen," Perry said.
Brown said his parents and Oklahoma coaches were excited. He was told it could be possible for him to come in and change things quick.
"I'm pretty fired up," he said.

-Trae Thompson

Nasty, just nasty

Find more videos like this on Chevrolet's PrepTicket

Bowie duo picks Kansas

Arlington Bowie quarterback Christian Matthews and free safety Dexter Linton both committed to the University of Kansas on Saturday.
"The Jayhawks are kind of hot, and they both liked coach (David) Beaty, who recruited them,'' Volunteers coach Kenny Perry said. "They took some other trips, and they went up in March for Junior Day, but I told them if you go up this time, you better commit."
Matthews (6-3, 175), who is entering his third year as a starter, finished the 2007 regular season completing 171-of-278 passes for 2,170 yards and 20 touchdowns, and rushed for 442 yards and six touchdowns. Against the other three District 8-5A playoff teams, he threw for 840 yards, including 302 against Arlington Martin.
Linton (6-0, 185) picked Kansas over Nebraska, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, Purdue and Louisville. He enjoyed meeting Kansas players and coaches, and liked the direction the program was headed in.
"Kansas was always on top,'' Linton said. "The only reason I waited was to make sure no other schools I liked came after me. Kansas was always one of my top choices."
-Trae Thompson

Signing day special for Bowie lineman

Of the 15 Arlington Bowie football players that signed Wednesday, offensive lineman Nathan Fears may have been the most grateful.

Fears, whose family left New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, signed a national letter of intent with Alcorn State despite playing football this season for the first time.

"It's incredible," said Fears, who also considered Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe. "It's a little sad because all these guys are going to play in different conferences and I might not see them."

Bowie coach Kenny Perry said it took about four games for Fears to adjust. From there, he was a valued member of the Volunteers' offensive line.

Arlington Bowie signs 15

Fifteen Arlington Bowie football players graced the stage of the school's crowded theater on national signing day.

The table was barely long enough for the 15, including soccer player Penny Rogers (Colorado School of Mines).

The signees were Mohammed Usman (Houston), Andre Robinson (Idaho), Kip Edwards (Missouri), Nathan Fears (Alcorn St.), Jimmy Ekumah (Montana St.), Andre' McGee (Idaho), Eric Mebane (Purdue), Roddy Maginot (Rice), Derek Clark (Rice), Marcus McGraw (Houston), Spencer Hython (Missouri Valley), Carlton "Pooh" Cannon (Langston, Okla.), Jonathan Johnson (College of the Siskiyous, Calif.), Jeremy Davis (Langston, Okla.) and Javayle Fields (College of the Siskiyous, Calif.).

"This was a special group," Bowie coach Kenny Perry said. "They worked so hard. They not only are great football players, but great kids, too. They helped turn around a program and a community. They've left a blueprint for our younger kids to follow."

Vols' total? Try 13

That's right. Arlington Bowie is going to have 13 players sign, according to coach Kenny Perry.
He read off the list, too.
They include Andre Robinson (Idaho), Andre McGee (Idaho), Nathan Fears (Alcorn State), Eric Mebane (Purdue), Kip Edwards (Missouri), Marcus McGraw (Houston), Mohammed Usman (Houston), Jimmy Ekumah (Montana State), Quinnin Criss (Texas Southern), Roddy Maginot (Rice), Derek Clark (Rice), Spencer Hython (Missouri Valley) and Carlton Cannon (Langston).
Impressive, huh? -Trae Thompson

Process begins for QB

Arlington Bowie coach Kenny Perry said the other day that colleges are already requesting information on junior quarterback Christian Matthews. Oklahoma State dropped by, so did Utah. Colorado State and Louisville have also been in contact. Most are wanting video, but Perry said "there's going to be quite a few" at spring practice this year. -Trae Thompson

Vols doing some traveling

Arlington Bowie coach Kenny Perry doesn't have any players who have made commitments lately, but they are busy with visits. Perry said defensive end Mohammed Usman and linebacker Marcus McGraw are visiting Houston this weekend. Cornerback Andre Robinson has visited Colorado State, and Jimmy Ekumah went to Montana State. Perry also said he expects Javayle Fields to wind up at Northwestern (La.) State. -Trae Thompson